Read the Commissioner's Bio

Glenda Villareal serves as DVS Deputy Commissioner and General Counsel. Glenda oversees Operations and Administrative Services, Informational Technology, Legal, Fiscal, and Client Services. Glenda also holds the role of Agency Chief Contracting Officer (ACCO) where she manages all contract and procurement matters. Prior to joining DVS, Glenda served as agency counsel at City of New York FISA-OPA and NYCERS, where she provided legal advice and guidance on statutory matters, labor and employment law issues, EEO, collective bargaining agreements, and complex IT and human services procurement contracts. Before committing to public service, Glenda worked as a civil litigator for one of New York's leading defense law firms covering various liability lawsuits with a wide range of national clients, including insurers, manufacturers, and property owners. Glenda started her legal career as an immigration attorney assisting Chinese nationals seeking asylum in the United States. 

Glenda is admitted to the New York State Bar, holds a J.D. degree from the University of Miami School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Stony Brook University, New York.

Shannon MacColl is the Chief of Staff at the New York City Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS), where she helps lead strategy, operations, and cross-agency initiatives to improve the lives of veterans, service members, and their families. In this role, she serves as a key advisor to the Commissioner, coordinates department-wide priorities, and works closely with City Hall, community partners, and veteran-serving organizations.

Before joining NYC DVS, MacColl served as a Communications Officer at the New York Health Foundation, where she led communications for the Primary Care and Veterans’ Health areas. She previously held senior roles at the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services, including Director of Public Information & Policy and Public Information Officer. In those positions, she helped shape statewide efforts on veteran suicide prevention, benefits access, and restoration of honor for veterans discharged under discriminatory policies, building strong partnerships across government agencies, nonprofits, and communities. Her earlier public service experience includes work with New York City Emergency Management and the NYPD Auxiliary Section.

She holds a B.A. in Urban Studies with a minor in Sociology from Hunter College, a Master of Public Administration from Baruch College, and a Master of Science in Information Design and Technology from SUNY Polytechnic Institute.

Ellen Greeley is the Assistant Commissioner of Policy and Strategic Partnerships for DVS. In this role, Ellen leverages private sector resources to help establish and sustain agency initiatives. Ellen also oversees grants management, data and reporting, and special programs.

Emily Jagroop is the Chief Information Officer for the NYC Department of Veterans' Services. In this role, Emily leads the Information Technology (IT) team by overseeing and being responsible for the management, implementation, and usability of information and computer systems required to support the DVS organization's unique objectives and goals.

With over nine years of public service, her career in public service began with positions at the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs and NYC 311.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Hunter College, Associates of Technical Studies in Information Technology from Eastern Gateway Community College, and a Graduate Certificate in Project Management from CUNY School of Professional Studies.

Emily is a military spouse of a US Marine Corps Veteran who came to this agency to support the veterans in NYC.

Charles ‘Chuck’ Rivera is the Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Communications and Press Secretary at DVS. He oversees press operations, message strategy, and executive speechwriting while leading outreach that connects veterans and military families to benefits, housing and employment pathways, peer-support programming, and citywide events.

Prior to public service, Rivera spent years in national media, producing, writing, and researching news of the day at MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show and previously at ABC’s Good Morning America.

A U.S. Air Force veteran, he served as a noncommissioned officer with deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. After separating, he worked for Lockheed Martin in Qatar as a network analyst and Air Force liaison.

Rivera holds a B.A. in sociocultural anthropology and political science from Columbia University, with a focus on media. He brings a mission-first approach centered on clarity, accountability, and measurable results for New York City’s veterans and military families.